Not all chickens look alike. Some are as fluffy as a cotton ball, some wear feathery "boots," and some are so small a child could almost hold one in two hands. Here are five chicken breeds that kids can learn to spot, along with an easy guide to telling roosters and hens apart.
What Is a Chicken Breed?
Every backyard and farm chicken comes from the red junglefowl, a wild bird from Asia. Over a very long time, people chose chickens with traits they liked – bigger birds, hens that lay lots of eggs, calmer personalities – and that's how many different breeds came about. They differ in size, feathers, color and even the color of their eggs. Bonus fact for dinosaur fans: birds are the closest living relatives of the dinosaurs!
Five Breeds at a Glance
| Breed | Comes from | Hen's weight | What stands out | Egg color | Eggs per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silkie | Asia | about 2–2.5 lb | fur-like feathers | cream to light brown | 80–120 |
| Brahma | Asia, USA | about 7–9 lb | feathered feet | light brown | 100–150 |
| Leghorn | Italy | about 4–5 lb | big red comb | white | 250–300 |
| Sussex | England | about 5.5–7 lb | black neck collar | cream to light brown | 180–250 |
| Bantam | many breeds | about 1–2 lb | tiny size | depends on breed | 100–180 |
For comparing and labeling, Chicken Breeds shows six hens in a row with blank name boxes. Older kids can write in the breeds they recognize.
Meet the Breeds
Silkie: The Cuddly One
A Silkie's feathers feel like soft fur. That's because they're missing the tiny hooks that normally hold feathers together. Under all that fluff, Silkies have black skin and dark bones, and they have five toes instead of four. They can't fly, but they're very tame and love to sit on eggs. Color one in with Silkie Chicken.
Brahma: The Gentle Giant
Brahmas are one of the biggest chicken breeds. A hen weighs about 7 to 9 pounds, and a rooster can reach around 11 pounds. Their feathered feet look like fuzzy slippers. Even so, Brahmas are calm and friendly. Their ancestors came from Asia, and the breed was developed further in the United States. Here's the matching page: Brahma Chicken.
Leghorn: The Hard Worker
The Leghorn comes from Italy and is named after the port city of Livorno. It's usually white with a big red comb. Leghorns are light, quick and lively, and they're good fliers. They're also among the hardest-working layers, with up to 300 white eggs a year. Many of the white eggs at the grocery store come from this kind of hen. Color it here: Leghorn Hen.
Sussex: The Family Favorite
The Sussex comes from the county of Sussex in England. Its best-known look, called Light Sussex, is white with a black neck collar and a black tail. Sussex hens are calm, friendly and hardy, and they keep laying in winter, which makes them popular with families. The coloring page: Sussex Chicken.
Bantam: Small but Mighty
Bantams aren't a single breed. They're mini versions of many larger breeds, weighing only about a quarter to a fifth as much – often less than two pounds. Their eggs are small too. Many bantam hens make excellent mothers and are great at hatching eggs. Color one with Bantam Chicken.
Why Are Some Eggs Brown and Others White?
Egg color depends on the breed. Leghorns lay white eggs; Brahmas lay light brown ones. On the inside, brown and white eggs are the same. Try a quick kitchen experiment: crack a white egg and a brown egg into two bowls and let kids compare. Can they tell which is which?
Rooster or Hen? How to Tell
- Comb and wattles: A rooster's are usually bigger and a brighter red.
- Tail feathers: Roosters have long, curved, often shiny tail feathers. Hens have shorter tails.
- Voice: Roosters crow "cock-a-doodle-doo." Hens cluck, and often make a big fuss right after laying an egg.
- Size: Roosters are usually bigger and heavier than hens of the same breed.
- Job: Only hens lay eggs and sit on them.
For a proud rooster to color, try Rooster on the Fence. To learn how an egg becomes a chick and then a hen or rooster, read From Egg to Chicken.
FAQ
What's the biggest chicken breed?
Of the breeds here, the Brahma is the biggest, and it's one of the largest chicken breeds of all.
Do all chickens lay the same number of eggs?
No. A Leghorn can lay up to 300 eggs a year, while a Silkie lays about 80 to 120. Laying breeds were bred specifically to produce lots of eggs.
Which chickens are best for families with kids?
Calm, friendly breeds like the Sussex or Brahma and the tame Silkie are known as good choices around kids. Keep in mind that chickens always need company, a safe coop and daily care, so think it through before bringing any home.